Top Places to Visit in Kerala

Kerala is the state in the South India, this place is all about spending time amid beautiful backwaters, visiting quaint temples and enjoying serene boat cruises. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala, which is famous for the Kovalam beach. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and north east, Lakshadweep Sea to the west and Tamil Nadu to the east and south.

Kerala is one of the most romantic, beautiful natural attractions of the world with its equal climate, serene beaches, hill stations, backwaters, waterfalls, bird and exotic wildlife sancturies which offer a unique experience.

Kerala Backwaters

Backwaters is one of the major tourist attraction of Kerala. Backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers and lakes extending about 1500 kms, with a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes. Most of the Kerala backwaters are naturally formed and some of the backwater canals are man made. Excellent Natural Beauty of the back waters can be explored by hiring a boat ride.

Munnar

Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in India which is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. This town is situated on the Kannan Devan Hills village in Devikulam. Munnar remains an ideal holiday destination almost throughout the year, tourists come here to see the lush green surroundings, lakes, waterfalls, streams, reservoirs, forests and vast tea plantations of the area. This hill station was once the summer resort of the British Government in South India.

Among the most popular places of tourist interest in and around Munnar are Mattupetty Dam, Mattupedi Dairy Farm, Kundala Lake, Top Station, Echo Point, Tea Museum, Attukad Waterfalls, Blossom Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Lakkom Water Falls and Tea Plantations.

Varkala

Varkala is a town in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. A must visit place to relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of beach and sunset through the cliff. Varkala is also a pilgrimage center for Hindus. The 2000 year old Janardhana Swami Temple which lies in the direction of Varkala beach is a famous religious site here. December to March is the best time to travel to Varkala. December and early January experiencing the biggest rush.

Among the most popular places of tourist interest in Varkala are Varkala Beaches, Janardhana Temple, Sivagiri Mautt, Varkala Tunnel and Kappil Lake.

Wayanad

Wayanad is a district in the north-east of Kerala state, India. It is nestled among the mountains of the Western Ghats, sharing the border with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Wayanad hills are contiguous to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land for the wild life. Wayanad is a picturesque hill station in Kerala, this verdant hill station is full of plantations, forest and wildlife. It is home to two major wildlife sanctuaries: Muthanga and Tholpetty. The culture of Wayanad is mainly tribal oriented.

Kumarakom

Kumarakom is one of the most visited tourist destination and counted among the must see places of Kerala. Famous for its backwater tourism, it is a cluster of islands around the picturesque Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom is blessed with dense mangroves, coconut trees, blue sky, migratory birds and greenery all round. For a birdwatcher, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a habitat for several migratory birds and is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom has a moderate climate throughout the year.

Kovalam

Kovalam is a beach town situated about 17 kilometres from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, in Kerala. It is known for its three adjacent crescent beaches. The southernmost, known as the Lighthouse Beach is the most popular of the three. Hawa Beach to the north is popular with day-tourists and surfers while Samudra Beach is where upmarket resorts and restaurants are housed. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees which is true to its name as this place offers an endless sight of coconut trees. It really awesome to spend time on Kovalam beach with your family and friends when you are a vacation to kerala. It offers breathtaking backwaters, lush landscapes, coconut palms and pristine beaches.

Among the most popular places of tourist interest in Kovalam are Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam Beach, Hawa Beach, Samudra Beach, German Bakery, Karamana River, Vellayani Lake, Valiyathura Pier and Vizhinjam Village.

Thekkady

Thekkady is located in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is known for the Periyar National Park which is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. In the biggest wildlife sanctuary, you can see elephants, sambar deer, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed Macaques and Nilgiri Langurs, bison, leopards, wild squirrels, tailed monkeys etc. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1978. This sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing wild life. It offers a very peaceful and calm atmosphere.

Among the most popular places of tourist interest in & around Thekkady are Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Lake, Kadathanadan Kalari Centre, Kumily, Chellarkovil and Vandiperiyar.

Kochi

Kochi formerly known as Cochin is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. Kochi is also known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. It is an important and beautiful port city of Kerala surrounded by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Having a coastline of 48 km, Kochi has beaches like the Fort Kochi and the Cherai which are attracting national as well as international tourists. It is a city with a glorious cultural past having palaces, forts, old churches, beaches, backwaters, snake boats races, Kathakali and museums. During the 14th century, Kochi gained a reputation of being an important spice-trading center. The best time to visit Kochi is between October and April.

Kozhikode

Kozhikode also known as Calicut is a city in Kerala, India on the Malabar Coast. Vasco da Gama landed on its Kappad sea shore on 27 May 1498 with three vessels and 170 men catapulting the region to global fame. With its lush green countryside, picturesque mountains, serene beaches, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries, gorgeous waterfalls and lively forests make Kozhikode a popular destination. Kozhikode Beach is a favourite haunt of sunset viewers.

Poovar Island

Poovar is located about 27 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram and 17 km southeast of Kovalam and is accessible by boat only. It's one of the places in India wherein you will find river, lake & beach at the same spot. Poovar Island is bordered by backwaters and Neyyar River near its confluence to Arabian Sea. You can enjoy the backwaters ride, as the boat passes through narrow canals which are surrounded by nature. If you love nature then this is the place you must visit. Excellent place for bird watchers & nature photographer's, cool place always green. The best time to visit Poovar is from August to March.

Simply nature at its best. Beautiful Lakes, sea, boat, mangrove forest, bird sanctuary, floating resorts and all at one place. Along with abundant flora and fauna, it is also known for its spice plantations, coconut and banana groves.